Wilson, Angels blank Mariners
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - David Freese's two-run homer backed eight stellar innings from C.J. Wilson and helped the Angels rebound from an Opening Day loss as they downed the Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday.
Wilson (1-0) retired the final 17 batters he faced and only allowed two hits with one walk. He threw 63 of his 96 pitches for strikes and fanned a pair.
The outing was a welcome sight for the veteran after pitching to an ugly 4.51 ERA last season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"C.J.'s performance is going to be important to our rotation," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think you're going to see a better year from him."
Freese followed Albert Pujols' double in the fourth with an opposite-field blast off James Paxton (0-1), who was otherwise solid over six innings.
"I left a cutter over the plate to Pujols, then made a mistake to Freese," Paxton said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The only real trouble Wilson faced came in the second inning when the Mariners had runners on first and second and one out. The left-hander retired Logan Morrison and Mike Zunino to leave two on, and after Rickie Weeks singled with one away in the third, the Mariners did not have a single batter reach base.
Huston Street tossed a perfect ninth to collect his first save and finish off the brisk two-hour, 13-minute affair.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Wednesday's rubber match of this season-opening three-game series pits Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma against the Angels' Matt Shoemaker ... Paxton, who came in 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts at Safeco Field, struck out five and gave up four hits ... The Angels recorded just five hits one day after recording four in the opener.